Tuesday, 27 March 2012

The Name of the Game has just been released by SirenBookStrand and to celebrate, I’m giving a
copy away. Just leave a comment on this blog and your name will go into the
hat. Good luck!

This is my first effort at writing romantic
suspense solely from the heroine’s point of view. Ashley believes her boss when he says his marriage if over. They enter
into a steamy affair and Ashley works her butt off to prepare the company for
amalgamation with a rival so that she and Matt can go public with their
relationship. But the bottom abruptly falls out of her world when Matt’s
‘estranged’ wife appears at the office, heavily pregnant.

Ashley breaks off
the affair but Matt won’t let up on her. He convinces her that he isn’t the
father of the baby but must stand by Eve until the amalgamation goes through
because she owns a vital five per cent of the company’s shares that could swing
the deal in either direction.

Someone is trying to sabotage the amalgamation. Ashley delves into the
Templeton family’s affairs, uncovering deeply buried secrets that someone will
go to any lengths—even murder—to protect. As she fights to save the man she
loves from the brink of ruin, Ashley finds that she’s placed her own life on
the line…

This is how Ashley discovers the truth about Matt’s wife’s condition -

“Did
you wish to see me about anything in particular, sir?”

“Yes,
gorgeous, I want to know where you’d like to go for dinner this evening.”

Ashley
didn’t attempt to hide her surprise, or her elation. They hardly ever dined out
together, just in case they were seen. If they did, it was always in small, out
of the way places of Matt’s choosing.

“Anywhere
I like?”

He
smiled that alluringly sexy smile of his, the one that never failed to make her
feel weak at the knees, and nodded. “Anywhere at all.”

“And
what are we supposed to be celebrating?”

Ashley
held her breath, instinctively understanding that they’d reached a defining
moment in their relationship. She said nothing more though, determined to make
him put into words exactly what was in his mind.

“Well—”
He paused, the expression in his silver-gray eyes meltingly gentle, full of
tender affection. “There’s a certain event that we should be celebrating on
Thursday, but since I have to be in Southampton for the rest of the week, we’ll
just have to bring things forward by a day.”

Ashley
dropped thick curling lashes over her eyes as she attempted to disguise her
disappointment. She had allowed herself to hope that he had something far more
life-changing in mind that her thirty-fifth birthday. But now wasn’t the time
to broach that particular subject. It was enough that he was prepared to risk
being seen in public with her—a huge step forward.

“Why,
Mr Templeton, I do believe you’ve remembered by birthday.”

“How
could I forget?” He chuckled, a soft throaty sound that was so uniquely him.
“And good girls can expect to receive special presents.”

“Ah,
but therein lies a problem.” She chewed pensively at her lower lip. “You don’t
like me when I’m good.”

“That
depends upon your definition of good. I don’t, for instance, much care for
girls who have good-looking young men in and out of their office all the
morning, asking needless questions.” His eyes bored into her profile. “Are you
going to tell me who he is?”

“What?”
she asked, with wide-eyed innocence. “Surely you don’t mean Gordon, the new
dispatcher I just employed? The one with the deep blue eyes, a cute dimple,
sexy smile, and hunky body.” Matt growled at her. “Is he good-looking? Can’t
say I noticed. Anyway,” she added, enjoying the sexual buzz she got just from
flirting with him, “I’m almost old enough to be his mother.”

Matt
fixed her with a disbelieving gaze. “Baby, the way he was looking at you when I
walked past this morning sure ain’t the way a guy looks at his mother.”

His
expression of concern for the business gave way to a wild look of panic. He
stared at Ashley without speaking. Although she was seated directly in front of
him, he didn’t appear to see her, causing a frisson of alarm to spiral through
her. It was awkward, but Matt’s reaction seemed way over the top. Ashley was
well able to maintain a professional stance in front of his wife. Did he
imagine that she’d go all girly on him and drop him in it by giving herself
away? Really, he ought to know her better than that.

Before
she could ask any questions, the door opened, and Ashley was treated to her
first ever sight of the woman she’d heard so much about over the past eighteen
months but had so far managed to avoid meeting. She examined her critically,
disguising her acute interest beneath a cordial smile, and ruthlessly
suppressed the gut-wrenching jealousy that wormed its way through her insides.

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Today I'm pleased to welcome my good friend Fenella Miller to the blog. She's talking about her latest regency romance, Miss Shaw and the Doctor. Tell us something about yourself please, Fenella.

I am an historical
fiction writer with more than 30 titles to my name.So far all my published books have been
Regency romantic adventures, but I also write in the Victorian and World War II
eras.

I am married and have
two adult children and two grandchildren.I live in a large riverside village in Essex
to which I moved six weeks ago.We share
our house with an arthritic, 14-year-old border collie.

I was a teacher for
25 years but have also been a restaurateur and hotelier.However, being a writer is my dream
occupation.It's what I was born to do.

What are your
favorite novels?

Pride and Prejudice -
but I have read and reread all of Jane Austen's books and like them all.

I love most of
Bernard Cornwall's books, especially the Richard Sharpe series.

I read thrillers as
well as historical.Michael Connelly and
Lee Child are books I have to buy in hardback.

I loved the first
book in the Outlander series by Diane Gabaldon.

What can’t you live
without?

Chocolate. Sleep.
Writing.

Whatcharacteristics should a hero have?

He should be is intelligent, brave, handsome, resourceful and
kind to children and animals.What more
could you want in a man?

What are you working
on now?

I'm busy doing the
final tweaks and synopsis for a YA urban fantasy. Then I have to do bit more
editing on a full length Regency so I can send that off as well.

I prefer musicals to
anything - especially the old ones with Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger
Rogers. I like family films and thrillers as long as they aren’t too gory.

Do you listen to
Music when you write, if so what?

No – never listen to
music.

What is your favorite
quote?

Life is not a rehearsal.

If you could live
anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

I’d love to have
moved to rural France but am now happy where I am.

Are you a plotter or
a pantser?

A bit of both.I spend a lot of time working out the story in
my head before I start, know the beginning and the end and let the characters
tell the story in the middle.

With a long book
–such as Under a Shadow – which is 120K –I did plan the story far more
carefully.

With the fantasy I’ve
had to spend a lot of time writing a rule book for the fantasy world.

What is your biggest
distraction when it comes to writing?

Cricket.A peculiar
English game not played in the States but I watch everything the English team
play in, even getting up in the middle of the night to watch when they're
playing in Australia.

Miss Shaw & The Doctor is
out with Aurora/Musa on 23rd March 2012. Here is an extract -hope you
enjoy it enough to pop over and buy it.

Ebook Price: $4.99

Ebook ISBN13: 978-1-61937-260-3

At the sound of rapidly approaching hooves Sarah pushed herself upright.
How kind of the squire to send someone out to look for her. She had
fully expected to wait until the morning to be collected. She picked up
her valise and withdrew her handkerchief from her reticule to wipe some
of the grime from her hands.
The gig, travelling at a spanking trot, showed no sign of pulling up.
The driver could not have seen her. Leaning forward, she waved her
handkerchief furiously. The beast shied and the vehicle slewed sideways.
The unfortunate driver slipped from his perch and vanished into the
hedge.
“Oh, my goodness! What have I done?”
The horse, having recovered from its fright, now waited a few yards away
as if nothing untoward had happened. The outline of the gig was clearly
discernible in the welcome light of the lanterns. It appeared
undamaged–indeed not even the traces were tangled. Only the driver had
suffered a mishap. She was most concerned about him.
The head and shoulders of the missing man emerged through a gap in the
hedge. He was covered in twigs, his hair awry, and his smart topcoat
sadly mired. She was relieved to see he had not injured himself.
Apparently, the hedge had made a soft landing.
This was no servant – oh, dear! She had made a grave error of judgement
and would never have attempted to wave down the gig if she’s realised.
The gentleman did not look at all pleased to see her. In fact he looked
furious.
“I do beg your pardon,” she said. “I thought you were a servant from the manor come to collect me.”
He drew himself up to his full height, which must be two yards in his
stocking feet. Every inch quivered with rage. “Are you mad? Only an
imbecile would wave her handkerchief at a horse as you did. You are
lucky we were not killed by your stupidity.”
Sarah bristled. How could she have known the silly animal would tip its
master over the hedge? She had already apologised. There was no need for
him to be so unpleasant.
“If I had not done so, you might not have seen me. As a gentleman, I’m
sure you would not wish me to be marooned here on my own for the rest of
the night.”
She risked moving closer and curtsied politely. “I am Miss Sarah Shaw,
the new governess for Lady Fenwick. I have been sitting here for over
two hours.”
“Dr. Adam Moorcroft.” He barely nodded.
“I should be most grateful if you would assist me, Dr. Moorcroft.”
“I suppose I shall have to give you a lift as I am going to the manor
myself.” He viewed her large trunk with disfavour. “That will have to
remain where it is until tomorrow. Bring your valise. Let us hope, Miss
Shaw, that my horse is not lame after your foolishness.”
“All that I possess is in that trunk. If you will not put it in your
vehicle, then I shall remain behind with it. Please, do not let me delay
you. No doubt you are on your way to deliver Lady Fenwick’s child.”

Thursday, 8 March 2012

It won't surprise you to learn that I dreamed up the title for my upcoming romantic suspense release whilst at an Abba Tribute band concert. It works well because the book is about two people who have more than just horses in common. Matt is CEO of the family business that employs Ashley. Instantly attracted toward one another, they must keep their affair a secret until takeover talks allow them to be themselves.

Matters escalate when Matt's 'estranged' wife pitches up at the office - pregnant. Ashley fights back, placing herself in danger when she uncovers ugly secrets in Matt's family that others will go to any lengths to keep private. With the ultimate prize of control of the company at stake, some people will stop at nothing and Ashley's caught in the cross fire.

For Ashely it's more than just a game....it's simply a case of fighting for the man she loves.

Saving Grace

About Me

I'm a Brit now dividing my time between Andorra and Florida. I live with my husband Andre and a rescued dog of indeterminate pedigree. I write historical and contemporary romance as Wendy Soliman and my W. Soliman persona is responsible for The Hunter Files, my marine crime novels based in Brighton.